March 2009 -Book no 8

Learning to Fly by Roxanne Henke
I am not a huge fan of Christian  fiction type books but we seem to have quite a few in the Book club. I would never have bought this book or even lend it from the library, but it caught my eye in the Book club box, and I took it home. An wow, what a great read!

It is a well written simple story of two girls growing up in the same town in two very different households with very different discipline and parenting rules. The message of this book has been in the back of my mind ever since I read it (which is more than a year ago), and I often stand back and think about a situation that is playing out in our home and weighing the consequences according to the stories in this book.

A must read for every Christian mom - and entertaining too.

Cat's rating: A well deserved 8,5/10

February 2010: Book no 4

Book no 4: Every light in the house burnin' by Andrea Levy

Angela's parents come to England, the land of opportunity and spend their lives in a council flat, working hard to give their children a better life. But always feeling just "not belonging" rather than settling in. In the end Angela has to make sense of the confusing health care system to help her dad to die in peace.

Filled with unique and lively characters the book shows the lives of immigrants with a sensitivity and sympathy that really speaks to the heart. 

I really enjoyed this book and the different time levels it was written in enhances the mood of the story. Nostalgic and at the same time hyper realistic it is a charming memoir style read.

Some readers might be distracted by the use of "Jamaican style" English, but I found it easy to read and lending colour to th ebook.

Cat's opinion: A good stable 8/10

January 2009 - Book 4

Book 4 - 13 uur by Deon Meyer.

Deon Meyer is the king of suspense in South Africa. His books are all written in Afrikaans and then translated in English and many more languages. This specific book will only be published in the US and UK in 2010. Go to Deon Meyer's website for more information.I can recommend every single one of his books and most are available through Amazon.com.

I had sick babies, I hardly slept, but I read until 3 in the morning to read to the conclusion of this book. This about sums up how absolutely spellbinding and thrilling this book is.

The storyline is original and unexpected, the hero unusual. As always, this book is well researched and frighteningly realistic of the crime ridden South African society. The language is just as realistic in the world that this story takes it's shape. One of the best books I have ever read and certainly the best suspense thriller ever.

Cat's opinion: A well deserved 10/10